1. ELECTORAL SYSTEMS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Lesson Objectives:
What are they?
How do they work?
What are their strengths & weaknesses?

3. What sorts of Elections do we have?
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
(NI Assembly
108 MLA’s)
GENERAL ELECTIONS
(Westminster 18 MP’s)
COUNCIL ELECTIONS
(NI’s councils eg Belfast City Council)
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
(For NI’s representation in EU [3MEP’s])
REFERENDUMS
Vote on one issue
Eg Scotland becoming independent

4. Northern Ireland has 3 Electoral systems:
First Past The Post – (MAJORITARIAN)
STV (Proportional Representation)
D’Hondt (For allocating Assembly positions)
Each has a different role and function to play in Northern Ireland democracy.

5. AS1

6. This is also called a MAJORITARIAN system
It is used in GENERAL ELECTIONS (Westminster) to elect Members to the House of Commons
Northern Ireland therefore selects its 18 MP’s using this method.

7. FPTP – How does it work?
This is based solely on the principle of the person with the most votes wins.
Voting takes place in a CONSTITUENCY
A SINGLE MEMBER will be chosen for EACH CONSTITUENCY
Voting is carried out by simply putting an X in the box for the preferred candidate

8. ETHAN CONOR NIAMH JODI OSSIAN SARAH DUNCAN PAUL MEGAN SACHA LEWIS
FOR THE TITLE OF FIRST MINISTER OF LAGAN COLLEGE
PLACE X BESIDE CHOICE
ETHAN
CONOR
NIAMH
JODI
OSSIAN
SARAH
DUNCAN
FOR THE TITLE OF FIRST MINISTER OF LAGAN COLLEGE
PLACE X BESIDE CHOICE
PAUL
MEGAN
SACHA
LEWIS
PETER
CURTIS
JOSH

9. (Yet 4 out of the 6 votes went to other candidatesx x
WINNER
(Yet 4 out of the 6 votes went to other candidates x x x x

10. Advantages of FPTP
It allows for strong decisive Governments in Westminster
It therefore (usually) avoids the problems of Minority or Coalition Governments.
It is SIMPLE and very easy to operate and understand
It creates a strong bond between the MP and Constituency.

11. Disadvantages of FPTP
It does not convert votes into seats fairly or proportionally.
Smaller parties without concentrated support are at a great disadvantage
The system exaggerates support for larger parties.

12. It creates a number of SAFE SEATS meaning many votes are wasted
It creates a number of SAFE SEATS meaning many votes are wasted. Why vote?
There is very limited voter choice. Voters cannot choose between candidates of the same party
There is a high number of WASTED VOTES as Second and subsequent preferences are ignored.
The system exaggerates support for larger parties.
In NI it created Majority Protestant rule helping create discontent.

13. AS1

14. SINGLE TRANSFERRABLE VOTE (STV)
This is a form of PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
It is used in NI Assembly, Council & European Union Elections
Northern Ireland therefore selects its MLA’s, Councillors & MEP’s using this method.
NI Assembly
Councils
EU Parliament

15. AS1

16. AS1

17. STV – What is it?
This is designed to make sure the candidates elected, represent accurately the opinions of the voters
Therefore the Strength of each party in the LEGISLATURE is directly proportional to the support of the people.

18. Communist Revolution now party
PAUL
Equality Party
LEWIS
Communist Revolution now party
MEGAN
Cute Kittens Party
SACHA
Let's Party Party
ETHAN
Sci Fi Party
NIAMH
Pro Life Party
JOSH
Free the Flags Party
PETER
Football Party X

19. Communist Revolution now party
9,300
1,006
1,113
9,315
1,300
1,998 4
113
PAUL
Equality Party
LEWIS
Communist Revolution now party
MEGAN
Cute Kittens Party
SACHA
Let's Party Party
ETHAN
Sci Fi Party
NIAMH
Pro Life Party
JOSH
Free the Flags Party
PETER
Football Party
14,834 Voted AGAINST Let’s Party Party but they still win!
WINNER!

20. STV VOTING CARD

21. Advantages of STV
It allows for a much more representative form of Government.
It provides greater choice and over more issues
It benefits smaller parties such as the Greens, Women’s Coalition, Alliance
It helps dissolve partially the ‘Traditional’ divisions and introduces Real issues

22. Disadvantages of STV
It creates an Executive based on artificially working together- Does it work? Peter Robinson / Martin McGuinness?
Is it stable? Does it provide effective leadership?
Does it give opportunity to Minorities and women?
Is it Representative? Does it not break down the strong bonds with MPs to their Constituency?

23. Key Points from latest 2011 Assembly election results in NI
The majority of Unionist transfers were from Unionist parties while the majority of Nationalist transfers were from Nationalist parties. This was also the case in the previous Northern Ireland Assembly election in 2007.
The total number of transferred votes was lower compared with 2007, due to the smaller number of candidates in this election.
Of the five main parties:
The UUP received the highest number of transfer votes from other parties
Alliance received the lowest number of transfer votes from other parties
The highest number of transfers to other parties were from UUP candidates; and,
The lowest number of transfers to other parties were from SDLP candidates
Thirty four of the 108 successful candidates were elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly on first preference votes only.
The remaining 74 successful candidates were elected on the basis of first preference votes and vote transfers.
Source: Analysis of Transferred Votes in the Northern Ireland Assembly Election 2011
Robert Barry and Barbara Love

25. D’ Hondt
This is solely used to allocate Executive positions and Chairs of Committees in the Northern Ireland assembly
This is based on the highest average method
It assures proportional allocation of Ministerial positions at the Assembly
It differs from STV in that it does not use a Quota to allocate seats. They are allocated singularly and one after the other

27. You are going to debate ‘The Best Electoral System’
You are to research both sides of the argument and form compact and strong notes with good examples.
You’re in two teams:
This side FOR FPTP This side FOR PR